Longtime county commissioner John Shrum dies

At the time of his retirement in 1996, Shrum was the longest serving elected official in Idaho.

John Shrum, who served Elmore County as a county commissioner from Glenns Ferry for 34 years, died Friday, April 21, 2006, at the age of 72.

At the time of his retirement from serving as a county commissioner in 1996, he was the longest serving public official in Idaho.

"He was honored to represent his community and was proud of the commissions' many achievements," his family noted.

Shrum was known for his commitment to the community, his openness, honesty, integrity and his constant work on behalf of all citizens, especially those who needed help.

He was praised by community leaders throughout the county who mourned his passing.

Bud Riddle, who served with Shrum as a commissioner for 28 years, remembered him as "a very good man, very smart. He did a very good job with the public's money and I appreciated working with him. We settled all our disputes without fighting and we never got sued by anyone."

And fellow former commissioner Barry Peterson described him as a man of "incredibly impeccable character. He was always a gentleman."

Former county commissioner John Hiler, who had grown up with Shrum in Glenns Ferry, said "he was as good a man as I've ever known. He worked hard at doing the right thing. He always wanted to do the right thing. He was a dedicated public servant."

Hiler said Shrum "always had a feeling for those less fortunate. His office was always open to those who needed help," and that attitude carried over to his private business as well. "There was a time when businesses stepped up to help people, and John was one of the leaders in doing that. He was always there to help, and served his community well."

Hiler added that Shrum also was a strong supporter of the Glenns Ferry schools and sports programs, "and he was a dedicated family man. His family was very important to him."

A close friend, Larry Gertsch, met John in 1940, and Gertsch said they had an enduring friendship up to the day that John passed away.

"He was a comical man," Gertsch said with a chuckle. "He was a good friend."

Although he was 17 years older than John, Gertsch said he found a kindred spirit in his friend. Together they fished and hunted the lakes, streams and mountains of Idaho. Sometimes they caught fish, sometimes they didn't, he said. But the real enjoyment of those trips was the camaraderie that the men shared. "I'll miss John," Gertsch said.

During his junior and senior years at Glenns Ferry High School, John played football under coach Gordon Brown.

Brown remembers John as being a very good athlete, but his most noteworthy contribution was his sense of humor and the fun he brought to the game.

"John, he had a lot of fun playing," said Brown. "That's what I enjoyed about him -- he had a good sense of humor. He'd just go with the flow."

John was known for having a quick wit, and he was quite a prankster. An employee at Southside Market related how John "was always putting steaks into somebody's shopping cart," which was quite a surprise to the customer when she/he went to the check out stand."

A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, April 26, at Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church in Glenns Ferry. Arrangements are under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, Mountain Home

He was born John William Shrum on December 21, 1933, in Glenns Ferry, to Gertrude and G.F. "Skete" Shrum.

He graduated from Glenns Ferry High School in 1952 and then attended the University of Idaho where was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.

He served two years in the Army as an instructor in the Armored Tank Division while stationed in Aberdeen, Md.

John met Vanessa Wheatley at the University of Idaho and they were married on Aug. 10, 1954. The couple was blessed with four children.

John joined his father and brother, Paul, as a partner at Shrum Motor Company, the oldest Chevrolet/Oldsmobile dealership in the Portland Zone, which had been opened in the 1920 by his father and uncle, George Gunson. He was recognized repeatedly as one of the top salesmen in the Northwest, receiving many awards and honors.

In 1957, John and Paul took over the dealership. They would add Oldsmobiles to their inventory and continue to run the dealership until 2000, when they decided to retire and close down the business.

He earned a reputation as a businessman with integrity, a reputation he carried into his public life.

In 1962, John was elected Elmore County Commissioner, and served with distinction for 34 continuous years.

He was an active member of Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church.

Shrum was known as an outstanding outsdoorsman. One of his greatest joys, his family noted, was pheasant hunting with his sons, friends, and his faithful dog. He was also a skilled fly fisherman who especially loved the Big Wood River and other streams around Ketchum.

In his younger years he liked to "sharpen his elbows" for a good game of basketball and in later years enjoyed spending time on the golf course with his brother-in-law, Chris.

"Blessed with a unique sense of humor, John loved to laugh and took great delight in sharing his laughter with others," his family said. "Home is where the heart is and John's heart was always in Glenns Ferry. He felt fortunate to live his life surrounded by dear friends and family in the area he loved.

"He leaves a legacy of integrity, loyalty, sense of humor and devotion to his family."

John is survived by: Vanessa, his wife of 51 years; a daughter, Susan, and her husband, Randy Reid of Jerome; sons John and his wife, Geniel, of Glendale, Ariz., David and his wife, Patty, of Boise, and Dan and his wife, Joan, of Salt Lake City, Utah, 11 grandchildren; a sister, Mary, and her husband, Chris Christophersen; a brother, Paul, and his wife, Joan Shrum, his aunt Ellen Laible and many special nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Our Lady of Limerick Catholic Church 21 W. Arthur Ave., Glenns Ferry, ID 83623, or a charity of choice.